Work Text:
"Well wishes, esteemed paper-blessed associate!" greets a familiar and very close voice.
Coral Glasses, who had taken to sitting cross-legged on the ground, goes rigid and squeals. She jolts, incurring a torrential downpour of paperwork. The businesswoman is left clutching only a single one of the papers that'd been obscuring her view in the first place, which she's now using to censor the embarrassment on her face, coral rings going haywire.
"Oh, uhm, welcome back, I suppose. You sure are a... persistent creature," she eeks out, awkwardly averting her gaze to the sand beside her.
"As my employment requires of me."
The Saleswoman winks at her. For a fleeting moment, ENA stands uncharacteristically still as the paper storm-surge dies down around the pair. But as suddenly as the calm spell around the entity had began, it was dashed. Like her browser page had just refreshed, ENA reacts quickly, sweeping up the rogue paperwork at a double fast-forwarded pace. The worker neatly stacks the pile and presents it back to the other woman, bowing slightly while doing so.
"My sincere-iest condolences, ma'am! Say, are your arduous and demeaning corporate tasks for this shift fulfilled, perchance?"
"...Thank you ENA..."
Coral Glasses finally lowers the paper she was hiding behind and looks up at the entity's asymmetrical face. They don't show it, but ENA is taken aback at being addressed by their actual title and not a crude approximation. Maybe the lady had needed to jot down her contact information for future faxes, and it stuck?
Accepting the paperwork, Coral confesses the truth. "Yes, I suppose they are. Why do you ask? You're certain Froggy has no other tasks left to offload onto you?" She raises her eyebrow skeptically. "Proving your capability to an employer is a dangerous thing; You're only asking for more to be served onto your plate, you know." She fans herself with the stack of wretched paper.
Although ENAs are usually likened to pests, the businesswoman wasn't entirely against being propositioned by this one right now. She functioned well enough under pressure, and had actually gotten a lot done since her introduction with the worker earlier. And, Coral felt much more agreeable in the absence of the smoke--she'd been trying to kick the habit and being hit over the head with a reminder of her nicotine withdrawals wasn't exactly conducive to her efforts of productivity.
That, as well as the bickering between her employer and a damn stack of penguins in a trench coat. It had started out amusing enough, like soap opera re-runs flipped on for background noise, but by the three-hour mark the hiring manager had been printing obituary summaries for when she wrung their necks.
Lastly, this had been Coral Glasses' first interaction with a specimen of the ENA species, and she wouldn't admit it but she was kind of intrigued by their...unique business strategies. She knew generally what to expect of the peculiar creatures, sure, but seeing one in the flesh(?) was an Experience.
"HEY, don't go giving bullfrog-brain any BULLSHIT ideas! I'm trying to get us outta this total and absolute DUMP around here!! That bastard probably has this entire place WIRED!!!!" Meanie looks around dubiously, lowering her megaphone for that final paranoid sentence. However, her speaking volume doesn't adjust accordingly. Despite the newfound ringing in Coral's ears and her coral spiking with the sound waves, both beings gloss over the outburst as if it's perfectly normal, which, is accurate for an ENA.
The easygoing Saleswoman resumes, "As they say, 'man must break his back to earn his day of leisure', and I must confess I've been thoroughly beaten today," they remove their hat to run a mitten hand through their hair, smoothing it.
"I fear Jack will become a dull boy in no time at all. And, knowledged of your own work ethic, I figure you, dear, are in desperate need of an alcoholic beverage of some sort."
Coral Glasses is maybe just a little won over at being considered, and possibly slightly flattered being referred to as 'dear'. Even if this is ENA.
"You're... offering to buy me a drink?"
The businesswoman's head was killing her from all the printing and sending and receiving, and the stress. So much stress. Getting obliterated sounded wonderful. She wipes the sweat from her forehead with a sleeve, her expression letting on a little more than she means to show outwardly.
That smug half-faced smile gets noticeably wider at the request for verification.
"That is precisely what I was getting at, fellowship," comes the cool reply. The cap is returned to the bizarre woman's detached head.
Coral Glasses isn't sure how to interpret the situation, but ENA is, unfortunately, charming her nonetheless.
Damn, she is good at pitching. No wonder she found a way to clear up that smoke.
"...Okay." The businesswoman nods. "But I cannot handle being in the vicinity of the general public any longer tonight. May I request we retrieve the drinks and simply unwind in my apartment?"
Some thoughts occur to Coral as she says this, things she should've considered before. Too late. The perpetually-frazzled lady sighs.
For the second time today, ENA offers a hand to the odd woman, along with a seemingly genuine smile. She hesitates, but ultimately relents, taking ENA's surprisingly (but refreshingly) cold polygonal hand. It seemed that the daylight and sweltering reek of metal never let up on this island, despite hours having passed and all entities besides Coral Glasses and ENA having vacated the premises long ago.
"This is only because we're off the clock. Don't go getting ideas about collecting and bottling my 'germs' to resell them for profit, now. This whole proposal better not have been one of your scams!"
"Ah, worry not! I wouldn't dream of it! There is no price to be paid for such precious cargo!" ENA retorts with a glint in her eye.
Grinning in a self-satisfied manner, she shakes Coral's clammy hand twice, firmly, before yanking her up by it and marching them off towards the casino. Another surprised yelp rings out from the taller being as she's pulled along.
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ENA approaches the Receptionist determinedly, but nearly as soon as she spoke, she and the machine had devolved into a catty exchange of insults. At first, Coral Glasses stood by and pinched the bridge of her nose, hoping the two would tire themselves out, but she soon realized that this type of wishful thinking was hopeless here. She takes a deep breath, and steps between a rabid ENA and the uppity robot. ENA stands behind Coral's outstretched arm which divides her and the desk, glaring and cagey like a zoo lion behind glass. Somehow, Coral's measured response, and lack of being an ENA, got them the go-ahead to pass through the double-doors off to the right.
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The duo step out of the elevator, directly onto the slick concrete of a claustrophobic alleyway. The crisp air and petrichor of recent blood-rain is welcome, although the distinct metallic undertone lingers here, too. Scanning the blinding array of neon signs that littered the cityscape, the worker locates a small corner shop and beelines over before Coral Glasses can direct them to the liquor store she usually frequents.
Following ENA's lead once again, the entities walk into the shop with the jingle of a bell above the door. They meander through the aisles, Coral hugging herself with her arms and ENA getting distracted by most every item they see. Although, most have a large 'CAUTION: NO ENA' warning alongside the product's side effects and usage information. She doesn't seem to notice.
When the mismatched pair finally approach the register, ENA hoists the bottles of whatever-her-companion-chose onto the countertop. A spiky paper unicorn unfurls and re-folds from a point in space, side-eyeing the customers instantly. Focusing its glare on ENA, she just points a vermillion thumb towards Coral, without missing a beat.
"This is for my accomplice here, but please do accept my currency. It was my offer," the smaller girl insists without a word having even been said to her, as if she's regularly interrogated about her purchases.
Coral just raises a hand to waggle her fingers and forces a grin, backing up ENA's claim. Why did this feel so criminal??
Then, the paper unicorn's eyes seem to light up, and... he motions towards the shelf of erotic items next to it. The two girls share an uncomfortable glance at each other, before ENA's temper overtakes her.
"Oh SCREW OFF, losing-ist racehorse shish-kebob!! I'm the wares negotiator--don't start with me!! I'll do the buying and selling around here!" she slams her fist on the counter, other hand bracing against the surface as she leans forward, onto the defamed cashier's side. Coral's eye goes as wide as it can go.
Once the origami animal retreats out of the fuming polygon lady's immediate attack range, she switches back into customer service mode seamlessly. Straightening their posture, all segments of their body returning where they belong, they spill a pile of chocolate coins from their palm onto the counter.
"Thank you for your business," her cheerier side purrs, a strange boom in her voice.
A chi-ching noise emanates from somewhere. Then, ENA's turning on her heel, bottles in hand. Coral Glasses is quick to dash after her. When ENA and Coral Glasses step back out onto the street, the businesswoman is relieved to find it just as liminal as before. She inhales the fresh air; praise GØD this was their only pit stop. She truly and honestly could not handle any more interactions. Well, besides ENA, anyways.
"Thank you, ENA."
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Coral Glasses opens the door to her high-rise apartment, overlooking a gorgeous PS1 style city skyline complete with render fog.
ENA slips their loafers off at the door and removes their hat before stepping lightly through, almost trepidatiously, taking in their surroundings. Life-forms don't usually just welcome her into their abodes, unless absolutely necessary.
"The floor won't fall through, you know. They fixed that issue in the last update," the host says flippantly, allowing the door to slam itself shut.
ENA jumps at the sound, turning around to see her work-fellow kicking off her shoes, then hanging up her blazer, undoing her tie and the first few buttons of her dress-shirt. Methodical. Coral finally acknowledges the other entity's staring problem, coral pulsing like a radar. She swears she can feel the geometrical eyeholes newly-drilled into her skull.
"...Would you like me to take that?" she inquires, motioning to the cap still clutched in the worker's hand.
"Don't overwork your lovely machinery, it's quite alright. Besides, whoever would I be without it?" replies the Saleswoman.
"...Could I at least take those beers off of you?" she asks shyly, tilting her head.
"Oh!" A strange silence befalls the pair after the exchange. Coral Glasses feels herself start sweating again. She speaks up.
"Um, you can make your corporeal self comfortable and take a seat, if you do that sort of thing," she offers, mentally scrambling in the absence of ENA's usual talkativity. The girl seems strangely out of her element.
Eventually, ENA dramatically flops herself onto the sofa with an excited oooohh! and Coral feels slightly more at ease. She starts off toward the kitchenette, intentions set.
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Coral returns to the couch, cartoonish beer mug in each hand. She offers one to the polygonal creature-girl, who currently looks prepared to be consumed by the upholstery.
"What fantastic hospitality," ENA ballyhoos, accepting the mug with foam spilling over the side.
As the businesswoman settles herself in she switches the television on, more to fill the empty space with sounds, shapes, and colors than for entertainment. ENA looks contemplatively into their drink for a moment, recalling the events of the day, before downing half the alcohol in seconds.
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The right side of ENA's face is completely blacked out, which she's thankful for. They don't think they have it in them to drunkenly wail in their anguish tonight, nor do they particularly want to.
She really shouldn't have proposed this, though. She shouldn't be relaxing, she should be doing something productive! They wanted to fight the fatigue they felt creeping into their body whenever they let themself sit down, shake the fog out of their mind like a wet dog--but they can't bring themself to. That part of herself was out of commission at the moment, anyways. Even so, her mind continues buzzing unhappily. She feels eyes on her, embedded in the walls that slowly close in. Guilty.
Her anxiety only shines through in the way she fidgets with the hat in her hands.
Coral doesn't seem to be faring much better, ENA notices from across the couch. She looks exhausted. She looks like she could use a hug, or something.
ENA doesn't really know how to help themself, but they feel confident they can at the very least try to help a colleague out. Besides, she's longing to make herself useful.
ENA takes another huge swig of alcohol, then clicks her tongue(?), snapping Coral out of whatever mental doom spiral the poor thing seemed to be caught in. When Coral looks toward the sound, ENA's much closer to her. Though, a little jumbled: their leg is crossed over the other, rear end on the couch. Meanwhile, her torso's on its stomach, one arm crossed while the other props up her tilted head--which is smiling like a Cheshire Cat. This actually earns a giggle from the lady.
"Sweet print-ress, I couldn't help but notice you look terribly taxed. I thought we were meant to be un-wiring ourselves this evening, true?" she inquires.
The woman looks conflicted, staying silent. Though, the coral on her face appears to react in some way.
"Put more plainly--may I offer you some sort of affection? You truthfully seem like you require it." They feel their own face heat up.
A stringy strand of hair falls in front of her blush-dusted but otherwise paper-white face as she stares at her strange new coworker. Her new coworker that is reading her like a book, and asking to hold her.
ENA's also noticed how Coral tries to stay stoic, but her awkward mannerisms always give her away. She finds it rather endearing.
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The inebriated beings have gotten much closer on the couch than their employment would ever necessitate.
ENA had begun automatically petting the girl in her lap like a household creature. She's not entirely sure what she's doing, but it feels like instinct. No different than hourglass dogs, or the Wanderer, or the... babies? Pets? Things she'd retrieved for the horse-man earlier.
Her hair is silky, jet-black. Nice to touch. Pretty.
Well, maybe it's a little different. She doesn't usually feel this warm and staticky about it.
Coral Glasses feels as if she's going to melt all the way down and through the carpet, in an enjoyable way for once. She only hopes ENA can't feel how sweaty she is. (ENA most certainly can, but they don't mind.)
Lightly dragging her claws along the other girl's scalp, she combs her fingers through strands. The polygonal girl feels the other relax against her a little more. Trying her damnedest not to be deafened by her screaming thoughts, ENA squints, inspecting the printer built into her companion's head.
"You are quite fascinating, Miss Coral," ENA finally remarks, though her words sound clunkier than last time she spoke.
Coral's face somehow becomes more saturated in color than before, but all she says in response is, "I think that... I'm just a glorified printer. I'm rather uhm... expendable," she huffs. "I don't even know why I got hired for this! Nobody's even applied, besides that... troubled little girl..."
She covers her face with a hand.
"Nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..." ENA buffers a moment, dragging out the word before continuing: "You got hired for this because you. Are. Qualified. Overqualified, even. But don't base your personal market value on the services you can provide." She adds a "There, there," patting Coral Glasses' shoulder.
Coral just groans. At once, ENA's face is in front of hers, although upside-down. A mitten hand shooes Coral's own away. Her red pupil meets her coworker's inky black one.
"Besides, I know potential when I smell it... you've got a face with a view..." ENA lazily sing-songs at the other, seemingly reloading mid-statement. Rerouting their arm to cup their coworker's cheek, the warm jittery static already festering in their chest seems to interpolate faster.
"You are... so terribly unprofessional," Coral laments, but not without a small grin. She places her hand over ENA's different, but similarly warm one. "You are interesting, though."
They have to go at a funky angle, but eventually, somehow, the two manage to get their lips to meet. It's sweet, if not kind of messy, awkward, and very confusing dimensionally. ENA hums all the while. Coral's mouth is tinged with static electricity by the time they pull away from each other.
Smile audible in her voice, she announces, "I think... we may have infringed on someone's copyright." She tries not to let her words become too garbled into incomprehension. Her mind feels sloshy like a fishbowl in the trunk of a car.
"Wait, eh... re-combobulate yourself," Coral commands, pointing a not-quite-steady finger in ENA's inexact direction.
"Combobulating!" ENA follows orders.
Upon reassembly, the smaller entity is pulled into an embrace vertically and sideways on the sofa. She squeaks in reaction. Coral's hold on them is remarkably tight, not that ENA's trying to fight it. Actually, she melts into the other woman's arms immediately, adjusting just enough to wedge her head under the other's jaw and wrap her arms equally securely around the woman.
Coral rubs circles on the polygon girl's back. Great Runas, she was so warm too...and not in an uncomfortable, sweaty way. In a very disarmingly comfortable one.
ENA hardly knows how to react to receiving affection, being that typically she's regarded with disdain, but she absolutely doesn't dislike whatever this is. She dreads growing accustomed to it though; the fleeting nature of comfort and the touch of a loved one when there's always a task to be done, and usually a goodbye to be said.
ENA is intensely aware of how the delicate balance of this situation will teeter off to the side all-too-fast when they drift into unconsciousness. Desperately trying to tether her attention to something, ENA looks out of the expansive wall-to-wall window. She attempts counting the stars in the skybox--or were they the lights in distant low-poly apartments among all the light pollution? Her gaze travels down into the endless black void the buildings rise out of.
Eventually, they feel their eyelid growing heavy. She can hear a soft whirring coming from the girl above her. ENA plucks Coral's glasses off her face.
"잘 자," ENA mumbles, and she feels herself falling before her system promptly powers off.